ANa: “S1mple has inspired a lot of young talent, including the girls I play with. He should come back and shut up all the haters”

Following the exhibition match at IEM Cologne 2024, we conducted an exclusive interview with professional female CS2 competitor Ana “ANa” Dumbravă. She provided detailed reflections on her gameplay experience while addressing critical developments within the women’s professional circuit. ANa additionally offered her professional evaluation of elite AWPers, drawing stylistic comparisons with ZywOo while expressing strong support for s1mple’s potential return to competitive CS2, emphasizing his profound influence on emerging talent.

— What emotional impact did participating in the show match create for you?

— The experience felt absolutely incredible. Although categorized as an exhibition match, it represented the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition. I never anticipated competing within such a prestigious arena environment, yet the atmosphere proved exceptionally enjoyable. Remarkably, I maintained complete composure throughout, making the situation absolutely ideal.

— Did your team coordinate the draw outcome beforehand, or was the knife round decision spontaneous?

— We didn’t prearrange specific outcomes, but during actual gameplay, we deliberately extended certain rounds for entertainment value—for instance, intentionally avoiding bomb defusals in select situations. This approach created genuinely engaging spectator content while maintaining competitive integrity.

— How would you characterize the current health status of women’s Counter-Strike? Is the competitive ecosystem growing stronger or facing significant challenges?

— With approximately five to six years of professional experience, I’ve witnessed substantial evolution within our competitive space. The initial developmental phase demonstrated stronger organizational commitment compared to current conditions. Recent departures of established organizations create concerning gaps in infrastructure support. However, I remain optimistic about potential returns or new organizational entries since financial and structural backing remains essential for sustained growth. From a pure skill perspective, the current competitive level significantly surpasses historical benchmarks. Numerous female competitors now participate actively, with collective skill progression creating increasingly demanding competition daily. Essentially, we require enhanced organizational investment, though the competitive foundation demonstrates remarkable strength.

— What potential exists for integrated teams featuring both male and female competitors? Could such configurations realistically qualify for RMR tournaments, closed qualifiers, or potentially Major championships?

— The pathway toward fully integrated competition requires careful strategic planning. Secondary-tier organizations could initiate experimental roster integrations by incorporating female players into their competitive lineups. We remain at considerable distance from achieving true competitive parity at the highest levels. Naturally, female competitors strive for equal recognition and opportunity. I maintain confidence that future competitive landscapes will embrace mixed-team configurations—this represents my primary professional objective.

— What’s your perspective on the current male professional landscape? S1mple hasn’t competed professionally for nearly twelve months. Do you maintain belief in his competitive return? Recently, B1ad3 suggested that he should initiate his comeback through tertiary competitive tiers.

— I genuinely hope to witness his competitive return because s1mple’s influence has shaped countless emerging players, including my current female teammates. His return could reignite competitive passion while definitively silencing critical voices. He represents competitive excellence and legendary status, making his comeback highly anticipated.

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— How do you assess the competitive standing of m0NESY, ZywOo, and donk? Which competitor will likely achieve top-ranking status this competitive season?

— I experience considerable indecision between m0NESY and ZywOo. As a primary AWPer myself, I carefully study both players’ technical approaches. My personal playing methodology aligns more closely with ZywOo’s strategic decision-making patterns, though both demonstrate exceptional sniper proficiency while maintaining strong intuitive gameplay connections. Ultimately, ZywOo might secure the premier position.

— Historical context shows that during a 2015 exhibition match, juliano defeated cadiaN on specialized aim training maps. If you confronted m0NESY and ZywOo in competitive settings, could you realistically achieve decisive victories like 16:0 scorelines?

— [laughs] Realistic assessment remains essential. Experimental matchups would provide valuable learning opportunities, though achieving such dominant results seems improbable. I would certainly exert maximum effort, but their legendary status creates substantial competitive barriers. No current players demonstrate comparable skill levels.

— Considering broader competitive contexts, if we examine any male AWPer across primary through tertiary competitive tiers, which player’s style most resembles your approach?

Every professional sniper develops unique technical signatures. I cannot claim immediate dominance at elite competitive levels since I lack direct experience competing there. Consequently, I cannot predict specific outcomes, though I would certainly apply maximum dedication while learning alongside established professional organizations competing at secondary or tertiary levels. I recognize that my skill development would accelerate through such collaborative environments, maintaining identical work ethic standards.

ANa represents an elite CS2 competitor currently rostered with premier female organization Imperial Female. Their competitive performance demonstrates consistent dominance, securing victory in most attended tournaments throughout 2024, mirroring previous competitive success with Nigma Galaxy. These achievements resulted in ANa receiving recognition as HLTV’s premier female player during 2022 award ceremonies.

The IEM Cologne 2024 exhibition match occurred preceding the championship final. Additional female industry professionals and competitors, including juliano, participated in the event.

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No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » ANa: “S1mple has inspired a lot of young talent, including the girls I play with. He should come back and shut up all the haters” Professional CS2 player ANa shares insights on women's esports, mixed teams, and top AWPers at IEM Cologne 2024